Shipping cradle and assembly support



Jan. 2,v 1945. B, KREUTER ETAL 2,366,337

SHIPPING CRADLE AND ASSEMBLY SUPPORTl Filed July 21, 1943 2 Shets-Sheet 1 ,o INVENTORS.' BERNARD KREUTER Bx n 2 .Z 5' pAvlD @nume/1; BY Z l AT1-ORNE);

Jan. z, 1945. 4 B. KREUTER Em 2,366,337

SHIPPING CRADLE AND ASSEMBLY sUPPoRT r iled July' 21, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 lNvEN-roRsr BERNARD KREUTER a ATTONEY.

Patented Jan. 2, 1945 SHIPPING CRADLE AND ASSEMBLY SUPPORT l,

Bernard Kleuter, Farmingdale, and David 'G.A Duryea, New York, N. Y., assignors to Republic Aviation Corporation, a corporation of Dela- Ware Application July 21, 1943, Serial No. 495,670 ziclaims. (ci. 24a- 119) 'lhis invention relates to cradles for the support in shipment, as well as during any subsequent assembly and adjustment, of mechanical structures or articles in such manner that the structure or article when crated or encased is firmly and rigidly supported out o f contact with, or even close proximity to, any of the parts, walls or surfaces of the enclosing container. This cradle is intended to continue the proper support of the structure or article after the surrounding container has been removed so thatv additional or cooperating parts may be attached to or assembled with the supported structure or article or so that any adjustments or inspections may be made. In short, the'combining of the present cradle with a container not only creates a package wherein the enclosed structure or article is supported out of contact with any `of thewalls or elements of the container, but also one which encompasses within its, confines all of the necessary elements of an assembly jig and work support.

While the present invention may be used and applied to the shipment and subsequent assembly and adjustment of mechanical structures or articles in general it is primarily intended for the. cratingand shipping of airplane fuselages and for the proper support of the fuselage when the crate is removed. from around it and during the assembly therewith of the engine, empennage and wings and while adjustments thereof are vbeing made.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent. this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the bottom of a container with the present cradle attached to inner face thereof, a fuselage, pertinent fuselage parts and wing roots being shown in broken lines to indicate the cooperation between-thecradle and the fuselage:

Fig. 2 is an exterior lside elevation of one vof the cradle uprights and associated parts illustrating its position relative to the wing hinge fitting on one side of the fuselage:

Fig. 3 is a' vertical section taken alone,r line 33-of Fig. 1 and in eiect comprises an interior side elevation of one of the uprights of the cradle taken in a direction opposed to that of Fig. 2: Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through one of the uprights of the cradle showing its elements standard shipping container.

in the upper of their two predetermined positions: and

`Fig. 5 is a like view illustrating the elements of the upright in the opposite or lower of, their two predetermined positions.

A proper understanding of the present invention and its utilityon reaching the destination can be derived from a consideration of the field assembly of airplanes. Prior to shipment, the plane is separated into its component parts, viz.: fuselage. wings, or wing sections, empennage and engine and these parts are cased or crated and shipped to the field where they must be assembled into a complete plane.' Sometimes this field assembly is done at points remote from shops,

hangars, cranes and hoists, and `in any event, it

is desirable to accomplish it with the least possible equipment and labor. The present'invention in addition. to supporting and holding the 'fuselage within the container during shipment continues such support after the container has been removed from around the fuselage and during the subsequent assembly ofthe plane and adjustments thereof.4 In this sense the present invention acts as an assembly jig and work.sup port thereby eliminating the use or necessity of cranes, hoists and other assembly equipment regardless of where or under what conditionsjthe .assembly and adjustment takes place.

Reference now being. had more particularly to the drawings, I0 designates the bottom of any The usual sides, ends and top (not shown) can be associated with this'bottom I0 to create a complete shipping container.

To the inner surface of the bottom l0 is attached the cradle forming 'the subject matter'of the present'invention and designed and intended to support the fuselage or other structure or article out of all contact with surrounding container elements during shipmentand to continue` this support, in either of two predetermined positions, vafter the sides, ends and top of the container have been disassociated with the bottom I0.

'I'his cradle consists of a. pair of vertical uprights Il, each being a channel bar, spaced one from the other and aligned one with the other Y when serving as a jig or work support.

apparent that the stub 23 and the extension or in any suitable manner, to the inner face of the bottom I0. Interposed between the two uprights II are a pair of spacing members I3, each in the form of an angle bar, having one of its arms flush against and welded to the adjoining webs II of the uprights II and its other arm resting on the inner surface of the bottom I0, where it may be secured if desired. The terminals of these spacing members I3 are also welded or otherwise attached to vertical sides of the base bars I2. Thus the uprights II, the base bars I2 and the spacing members I3 are combined into a unitary frame structure with the uprights spaced one from the other transversely of the bottom IIJ and firmly held in their vertical positions.

An angle I4 i's welded or otherwise permanently secured to the inner face of each upright II and is so positioned between the side webs I I' thereof adjoining the upper extremity of the upright that the outer surface ofthe horizontal arm I5 of the angle restscoplanar with the upper end of the upright. The vertical arm I6 of the angle I4 is flush against the inner surface of the upright II and for all intents and purposes is integral therewith. An opening I1 is centrally formed with the vertical arm I6 of the angle I4 and is aligned with the threaded passage of a nut I8 welded to or integral with the outer surface o'f the arm I6. A similar opening I9 is formed in the upright.II in registration with the opening I1 and the threaded passage of the nut I8. It is manifest that the angle I4, nut I8 and upright II may be made in a single piece and that when constructed as herein shown and described, these elements are, in eiect, a single unitary, integral structure.

To brace each upright II longitudinally of the bottom I0, a longitudinal brace 20 cooperates with the upright II between its upper end and the base bar I2 and comprises a single section of angle iron 20 extending from the base bar I2 on one side of the upright and terminating in a relatively short stub 23 on the opposite side of the upright. An extension or continuation brace member 22 is lightly welded to this stub 23 at one end and is bolted, as at 24,'to the vertical side of the base bar I2 at its other end. Intermediate of its ends the horizontal side 26" of this brace 20 passes over and rests ush against the upper face of the horizontal arm I5 of the-angle I4.

The vertical side of the brace.20 is cut away to accommodate the upright II and to permit the necessary bending of the brace, the edges 2I of this cutaway portion abutting the webs Il' of the upright II where they are welded or otherwise permanently secured. The end of this longitudinal brace 26 opposed to the stub 23 is lof cated to the rear of and is attached to the vertical side of the base ba-r I2 by any practical means.

Thus when the cradle is functioning as a jig" or Work support during assembly and adjustments after shipment, as will be more fully referred to hereinafter, the extension brace member 22 may be displaced by removing the bolt or bolts 24 and breaking the weld connecting it to the stub 23. This allows greater access to the fuselage. during assembly and adjustment without materially weakening the cradle `structure It is continuation brace 22 may be of a single f piece so that the construction of the longitudinal brace on one side of the uprightyl I is an exact duplicate fil of that on the other side of the upright. This can be accomplished by extending the stub 23 to terminate adjoining the base bar I2 where it is secured exactly as is the opposite end of the longitudinal brace.

For the purpose of vreenforcing the upright transversely of the bottom I0, lateral braces 25 extend from the upper end of each upright II vinwardly and downwardly to the spacing members I3. The outer end of each lateral brace rests against the outer face of one of the webs I I of the upright while its inner end rests against the outer face of the vertical side of one of the spacing members I3. The ends of each brace are welded or otherwise secured to the coacting elements. Two braces 25 are provided for each upright II, one extending between each web II' of the upright and the corresponding vertical side of one of the spacing members I3.

Thus a cradle frame is created for mounting on the inner face of the bottom I6 and constituting a pair of uprights II spaced one from the other transversely of the bottom I6 and rigidly held in their respective positions by braces that -counteract all strains and stresses on the uprights either during shipment or subsequent assembly and adjustment operations. The positioning of the uprights Il, spacing members I3, and base bars I2 creates a substantially U-shaped cradle frame while the interconnections between these elements and between them and the braces 20 and 25 results in a unitary frame structure which may, if desired, be placed on or removed from the bottom I6., or erected and assembled independently of said bottom, if that be desired.

A continuation of that portion of the horizontal side 20' of the longitudinal brace 20 that passes over and rests ilush on the horizontal arm lI5 of the angle I4 is provided in the base of horizontal side 20 of the brace 20 coacting with the arm I5. The sides 21 of this U-plate 26 extend downwardly to points adjacent to lateral braces 25 to which they maybe secured by welding. or otherwise. This U-plate 26 in forming a continuation of the portion 20 of the longitudinal brace 20 creates an enlarged bearing surface at the uper extremity of the upright II (the utility of which will be apparent), that is thoroughly braced and supported by the upright I I, the longitudinal brace 2U and the lateral brace 25. If desired or found to be more practical the U-plate 26, or at least the base thereof, can be made integral with the longitudinal brace 20.

Resting upon the combined outer surfaces of `the longitudinal brace 26 and U-plate 26 and above the horizontal arm I5 of the angle I4 is a pillow block 28 secured to or mounted upon the members 26 and 26 in any suitable manner. lThis block 28 if desired, may be removably mounted by any of a number of well known mechanical expedients but for the present purposes, it is preferred to have it permanently 'secured in its operative position and to that end it is welded to its supporting elements. For the reception and seating of the wing hinge fittings of a fuselage, as will be hereinafter more specically described, the upper surface of the block 28 is provided with one or more parallel grooves 29, one constituting a seat for each projecting and coacting part of the hinge tting. That end of the pillow block 28 in approximate alignmentwith the upright II is beveled, as at 30, to provide a supporting aseassv surface for the lower end of the elevator bracket An elevator plate I32 is positioned flush against the outer surface of the upright II adjoining its upper end and is capable of movement'relative to said upright between two predetermined positions. The lower terminal of this plate 32 is provided with an outstanding abutment member or flange 33. An opening 34 pierces the body -of the plate 32 to register with the openings I1 and I9 and with the nut I8 when the plate is in one (the upper) of its predetermined positions.

threaded rods 39.` I'he rods-39 may then be rotated to move in an upward direction until the openings 34 of elevator plates 32 align. with the registered openings I1 and I9 of the arm I5 of the angle I4 and the upright II respectively and of necessity with that of the nut I8. The reg- The elevator bracket 3| is carried at the upper p end of the elevator plate 32 and` is formed integrally therewith. It may, of course, form a direct continuation of the plate 32 by lying in the plane thereof, or it may, as illustrated, lie at an angle to the plane of the plate 32 to accommodate any bulge or outward flare of the structure or article to be supported. To strengthen the plate 32 and the bracket 3| and especially the junction between the two; an outwardly projecting rib or fm 35 is created on the outersurfaces thereof spanning their junction medially of the. width thereof.

On its inner face the bracket 3l has formed an integral, projecting, longitudinal relatively heavy rib 36 with an apertured ear 31 at each end. These members and 31 in combination provide the means whereby the fuselageis secured to and mounted between the brackets 3 I.

A bearing or stud 38 is formed `on the outer surface of the upright II below the lower extremity of the elevator plate 32 and has a threaded -opening therein. Operating in' this threaded opening is a threaded rod 39 having a faced head 40 at its outer or lower end and a contact plate 4I at its upper end to contact with the abutment flange 33 of the elevator plate 32.'

Thus the rotation of the rod 39 in one direction moves the elevator plate 32 and bracket 3| in one direction while the reverse movement of the rod 39 permits these elements to move in a reverse direction. As will be seen this movement is for the purpose of positioning the bracket 3l and istration 'of these openings on each .side of the cradle permits the master bolts 46 to .be inserted therein and threaded home into the nuts I8. In this manner, the fuselage is suspended between the elevator brackets 3| not only out of contact with the pillow blocks 28 but also out of contact with bottom I of the containerl and with the sides, ends and top of the container that may be associated .with the bottom I0.

While the vcradle and associated elements will satisfactorily hold the fuselage 42 lduring shipment, a tripod 41 can, if desired, be interposed between and xed to the tail of the fuselage and the bottom I0. This, among other things, will eliminate or overcome any tendency on the part of the fuselage to create a torque on hinge nt- After the sides, ends and top of the container have been removed from around the fuselage 42,

. the, tripod 41 is removed and while the fuselage plate 32 in either of two predetermined positions,

viz.: lan upper position and a lower position.

The vfunctions, purposes and operation of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the fuselage of an airplane though it is manifest that it can readily be applied to other structures and articles, where it is desired to support them out of all contact with the surrounding container and to perform assembly and adjustment operations after shipment, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

. In the drawings 42 denotes the fuselage of an airplanehaving the transverse spars 43 spanning the fuselage and each termining at its ends irr' the parallel apertured wing hinge ttings 44 on Thus an elevator ISI stands, hoists, cranes, etc.

is ,still supported or suspended between the elevato' brackets 3I the engine and empennage may beput in place and such adjustments made as are desirable.

The master bolts .4B may thereupon be removed and the rods 39 rotated to move in a downward vdirection permitting the brackets 3l and plates 3'2 to lower under the Weight of the fuselage until the projecting ends or wing hinge fittings' 44 of the spars 43 seat in the groovesy 29 of the pillow blocks 28. The hinge pins 45 and associated parts passing through the apertures of the Aears 31 of the elevator brackets 3I and the cooperating wing hinge ttings 44 are then removed which permits the complete removal of the elev ator parts from cooperation with the fuselage and allows the wings to be attached to the fuselage while it remains supported by the uprights I I andvon the pillow blocks 28.

At the time the sides, ends and top ofthe container are disassociated from the `bottom I9 and before any assembly or adjustment takes place, the extension brace members 22 may be removed as above described thereby providing additional clearances and greater access to the fuselage 42.1

From the foregoing it is manifest that the present cradle embodies an elevating and supporting structure which will occupy either of two predetermined positions: the first or upper for the support of the fuselage in shipment independently of the sides, ends and top of the container and during partial assembly after shipment; and the other or lower for the support of the lfuselage during the completion of the assembly and adjustment. It is apparent that this assembly and adjustment is accomplished without the use of the `usual shop equipment such as Furthermore the present cradle rigidly and firmly supports the fuplates 32 approximately flush against the outer surfaces of the two uprights II with the abut- ,.fments 33 thereof above and preferably in enj sagement with the contact plates 4I ofl the selage out of contact with all parts of the container in which itis shipped and permits the same tobe erected about the fuselage in association with the bottom I9 without injury to the `fuselage or to be -dissassociated from the bottom I0 without affecting the support of `the fuselage.

uprights, transverse spacing members interposed between and secured to said uprights, brackets associated with the extremities of said uprights embodying means for engaging a fuselage therebetween and suspending it between the uprights, elevating and lowering means associated with said brackets for positioningv them and the engaged fuselage in either of two predetermined positionsy'and means for entirely supporting the fuselage independently of said brackets in one of said predetermined positions.

3. A supporting cradle comprising a pair of uprights, spacing members interposed between and secured to said uprights, brackets associated with said uprights embodying means for engaging a fuselage therebetween and means coacting with said brackets forpositioning them and the engaged fuselage in either of two predetermined positions.

4. A supporting cradle comprising a pair of uprights, spacing members interposed between and secured to said uprights, brackets associated with said uprights, embodying means for engaging a fuselage therebetween, means coacting with said brackets and said uprights 'for positioning them and the engaged fuselage in either of two predetermined positions, and means for supporting the said fuselage entirely on said uprights in one of said predetermined positions thereby permitting the complete disengagement of the brackets from the fuselage.

5.` A supporting cradle comprising a pair of uprights, transverse spacing members interposed between and secured by said uprights, brackets associated with said uprights embodying means for engaging a fuselage therebetween, means coacting with said brackets for positioning them and the fuselage engaged thereby in'either of two predetermined positions, locks to fix the brackets in one of these predetermined positions, and

means for supporting the fuselage entirely on the uprights in the other of said positions thereby permitting the complete disengagement of the brackets from the fuselage.

6. A supporting cradle comprising a pair of uprights spacing members interposed between and secured to said uprights, brackets associated with said uprights and embodying means for engaging a fuselage therebetween, an elevating plate cooperating -with each of said'brackets and its upright, and means coacting with each plate for positioning it and its bracket in either of two predetermined positions. l

7. A supporting cradle comprising a pair of uprights, spacing members interposed between and secured to said uprights, brackets associated with said uprights and embodying means forengaging a fuselage therebetween, an elevating plate cooperating with each of said brackets and its upright, means coacting witheach plate for positioning it and its associated bracket in either of two predetermined positions, and a. lock for Y in, a nut fixed on the face of the upright 'oppofixing said pla and bracket in one of said positions.

8. A supporting cradle comprising a pair of uprights, spacing members interposed between and secured to said uprights, a bracket associated with each ofsaid uprights embodying means for engagement with a fuselage, an elevating plate individual to each bracket and its upright, means coacting with each plate for positioning it and its bracket inv either of two predetermined positions, a releasable lock for fixing each plate and its bracket in one of said positions, and means whereby the fuselage may be entirely supported on said uprights in the other of said positions thereby permitting disengagement thereof by the brackets aforesaid.

9. The combination with a pair of spaced uprights, of a bracket associated with each of said uprights having means for engaging one side of an article, and means coacting with each bracket for positioning it in either of two predetermined positions, whereby the article is supported entirely by the bracket in one of such positions and by y its upright in the other of said positions.

10. The combination with a pair of spaced uprights, of a bracket associated with each of said uprights and embodying means for engaging one side of a fuselage, means coacting with each bracket for positioning it and the engaged fuselage in either of two predetermined positions, whereby the fuselage is supported entirely between the brackets in one of said positions and directly upon the uprights in the other of said positions, and means whereby the fuselage may be entirely disengaged from the brackets in the last of said two positions.

11. The combination with a pair of spaced uprights, of a bracket associated with and lying generally above the extremity of each upright and including means to engage one side of a fuselage, a plate coacting with one end of each bracket and resting flush against the cooperating upright for movement relative thereto, said plate and upright having registerable openings therein, a fixed nut on the face of the upright opposed to the plate with its threaded passage in alignment with the opening in the upright, a supporting member extending at right angles to the upper extremity of each upright,V a stud on the face of the upright coactingwith the plate, means operating in said stud capable of abutment with said plate for positioning it and its associated bracket with respect to said upright, and means to be inserted in the registered openings aforesaid for threaded engagement with the aligned nut to secure the plate and its bracket in one position on said upright.

l2. The combination with a pair of spaced uprights, of a bracket associated with and lying generally above the extremity of each upright and including means of engagement for one side of a fuselage, a plate coacting with one end of each bracket and resting flush against the cooperating upright for movement relative thereto, said plate and upright having registerable openings vtheresite that cooperating with the plate-the passage of the nut being aligned with the opening in the upright, an abutment at the lower end of the Plate, a stud on said upright below said plate having a screw threaded through it for contact with the abutment. whereby the plate, bracket and engaged fuselage may be moved to an upper position with aforesaid openings and nut in registration or moved to a lower position, a bolt for passing through the aligned openings aforesaid for engagement with said nut when the elements are in their upper position, and a support disposed angularly to the upper extremity of the upright to lie under and support one side of the fuselage when' the bracket and associated plate are in their lower position.

13. The combination with a pair of spaced uprights, a bracket associated with and generally above the extremity of each upright including means of engagement for one side of a fuselage, a plate coacting with one end of each bracket and resting flush against the cooperating upright for movement relative thereto, said plate and upright having registerable openings therein, a nut xed on the face of the upright opposite that cooperating with the plate the passage of the nut being in alignment with the opening ofthe upright, an abutment -at the lower end of the plate, a stud on said upright below said plate,

having a screw threaded through it for contact with the abutment, whereby the plate, bracket and engaged fuselage may be moved to an upper position with aforesaid openings and nut in registration or moved to a lower position, a bolt to pass through the aligned openings aforesaid for engagement with said nut when the elements are in their upper position,'a support disposed at right angles to the upper extremity of each upright on the opposite side thereof to thelplate'and bracket, and a pillow block on each support upon which the fuselage rests when the plates and brackets are in their lower position, thereby permitting the disengagement and removal of the brackets.

14. The combination with a fixed upright, of a bracket associated with one end of said upright, means wherebysaid bracket may engage and support an article, a plate secured to said bracket and mounted for movement relative to said upright, means vto move said plate and bracket to occupy either of two predetermined positions with respect to said upright, and vmeans whereby braces between the upper' ends of said uprights and said spacing members. means for supporting an article at the upper ends of said uprights, and means whereby a section of they longitudinal bracesassociated with each upright may be removed without affecting the support of the article by the uprights.

17. A supporting cradle comprising a plurality of uprights, a frame structure bracing and spacing said uprights, means coacting with said uprights for supporting an article therebetween, and means whereby said supporting means may occupy either of two positions with respect to said uprights. Y

18. A supporting cradle comprising a plurality of uprights, brackets associated with said uprights embodying means for engaging and supporting a fuselage therebetween, means whereby said brackets and supported fuselage may be moved to either of two positions with respect to .said uprights, and means for supporting said fuselage independently of said brackets in one of said positions.

19. The combination with a platform, oi "a cradle xed to said platform to constitute a shipping support and an assembly jig comprising spaced uprights, supporting means cooperating y with said uprights to coact with the wing hinge fittings of an aircraft fuselage, means for positioning said supporting means in one of two predetermined positions relative to the uprights for supporting said fuselage from the wing hinge fittings'during shipment'and preliminary assembly after shipment, and means for moving said supporting means to the other of said predetermined positions to support the fuselage from the wing hinge fittings during the attachment of the wings thereto.

20. 'I'hecombination with the bottom of a shipping case, of a cradle fixed to the inner face of said bottom to constitute a shipping support and an assembly jig comprising a pair of spaced uprights, supporting means coacting with said upthe article may be entirely supported independently of the bracket in one of said positions.

15. A cradle, comprising: a pair of spaced uprights, spacing members interposed between and secured to the lower ends of said uprights, base members transverse to said spacing members at the lower ends of said uprights and secured to said uprights and spacing members, longitudinal braces between the upper ends of the uprights and the base members, means whereby a section of the longitudinal braces associated with each upright may beremoved and lateral braces between the upper ends of the uprights and the spacing members. p

16. A cradle, comprising: a pair of spaced uprights, spacing members interposed between said uprights, parallel base members at the lower ends of the uprights transverse to said spacing memrights to engage the wing hinge ttings of an aircraft fuselage to support it during shipment and preliminary assembly, means embodied in said cradle and cooperating with said supporting means for supporting the fuselage after disengagement of the wing hinge fittings from the aforesaid supporting means during the attachi ment of wings to the wing hinge fittings.

21. A unitary supporting cradle comprising a pair of uprights, transverse members spacing and securing said uprights one to the other, thereby creating 'a U-shaped frame structure with the space between the uprights substantially unobstructed, and brackets at the upper ends of said uprights each embodying means for cooperation with one side of an aircraft fuselage thereby supporting the fuselage at theupper ends of and between said uprights.

l BERNARD KREUTER.

DAVID G. DURYEA. 

